Kenneth Ashley's spirit left this terrestrial ball on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2014 at the age of 90. He was born in Bethelridge on March 31, 1924, the son of the late Joe and Florence Debord Ashley. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Ruth E. Francis Ashley; an only daughter, Linda Jo Creekmore of Somerset; three sons, Jimmy (and Louise) Ashley, Russell Ashley and David (and Irma) Ashley; nine grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. Other survivors include one sister, Bernice Ashley Barber; and a host of nieces, nephews and friends. He is also survived by two special caregivers, Shirley and Carla; and special friend and neighbor, Nancy Elliott. He was preceded in death by his parents; four brothers, Louis, Bartell and Stanley, who died in infancy, and Paul, who was the only one who lived to adulthood; sister and brother-in-law, Inez and Burnice Wall; brother-in-law, James Barber; son-in-law, Richard Creekmore; and a great-grandson, Dalton Kade Ashley. Kenneth was taught to fear God, to respect others and to love his family and country. His love for God, family, country, education and baseball was well known by those who knew him. A life-long member of the Methodist church, he served in many capacities, mostly a teacher of his peers, but he also loved to sing gospel with the choir or as a quartet. As a child and young adult, he attended Bethelridge Methodist Church. Most of his adulthood and until the time of his death, he was a member of Science Hill United Methodist Church. Finishing high school at Middleburg in May of 1943, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corp. He spent two years of this time in combat in the Pacific Theater. Having seen the devastation wrought by the atomic bomb to the City of Nagasaki, Japan, he returned to Bethelridge determined to live at peace with all of God's creatures. After his discharge from active duty in 1946, he enrolled at Lindsey Wilson College, where he earned an AA degree. Attending Western, he earned his BA and MA, thus launching a 39-year career in the field of education. As a public educator, he retired from his last position in 1989 as secondary supervisor in the Pulaski County school system. His professional career took him from teaching in a one-room school house, to elementary and high school teacher and principal positions, to Director of Pupil Personnel and Superintendent of the Science Hill and Ferguson Independent Schools. As a retiree, he served for five years as President of the Mid-Cumberland Retired Teachers Association. His role as an educator was not limited to the public. He was a teacher in all aspects of his life, as his many nieces, nephews and children would attest. If you listened, you learned from this wise man. He was always teaching those around him by the way he lived. He touched the lives of many on and off the playing field. Oh, for the love of baseball!Â "Curly" was an apt nickname for Kenneth, who in his youth was a dedicated baseball fan and a "try hard" player. He played semi-pro ball in the Central Kentucky League, the Bluegrass League, for the Wall-Town Warriors and for Liberty. Each March brought Kenneth to spring training in Florida to watch the game he loved so much. Not only an avid fan and participant, he also umpired the games for six decades. He likened his life to a baseball diamond. First base was his early life thru the eighth grade. Second base was high school and military service. Third base was college, teaching and retirement. Now, as he is rounding third, he sees "The Manager" waving him on and the call is made, "SAFE AT HOME!!!" The Lord, the Ultimate Umpire, made the call "Another Player Has Been Retired." Semper Fidelus. A funeral service was held Dec. 15 at Science Hill United Methodist Church with Bro. David Green and Bro. Troy Poff officiating. Burial was in Mill Springs Cemetery with military honors by the Marine Corps Honor Guard Funeral Squad. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Hospice of Lake Cumberland or the Gideon Memorial Bible Plan. Morris and Hislope Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.morrisandhislope.com.